This team has fallen flat, fast

Chargers Philip Rivers gets up after throwing a incomplete pass on a 3rd down on the Chargers last drive in the 4th quarter. Robert Arers, left, D.J. Williams and Elvis Dumervil look on.
— K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune

Chargers Philip Rivers gets up after throwing a incomplete pass on a 3rd down on the Chargers last drive in the 4th quarter. Robert Arers, left, D.J. Williams and Elvis Dumervil look on.
— K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune

Their offensive line may have run-blocked a bit better Monday night than it has against a very good run defense (LaDainian Tomlinson found enough creases to gain 70 yards), but their quarterback is starting to get drilled, and if Rivers goes down for any length of time, they won't be able to beat an old throw rug.

As for the defensive front seven, I don't know what to say. What a few years ago was the best in football now couldn't get to the quarterback with a Marine escort. It isn't going to work this way. It can't.

Denver's Kyle Orton may not be a great quarterback, but he isn't bad, and when he continuously has time to throw – and we're talking Chargers rushers not getting within shouting distance of him – he's going to beat you, and that's just what he did.

The outside rush once provided with a fury by linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips, is gone. Rookie first-round draft choice Larry English provided his team's only sack, and it was of the coverage variety. The Chargers have allowed 15 sacks and have but seven of their own.

The defense can't get off the field. Denver's did. The Broncos converted 9-of-16 third-down tries. The Chargers were 2-of-11, which is beyond putrid.

“We had some penalties, some plays we should have made,” Merriman said. “We should have been in position to make them and we didn't.”

It's gotten so bad, special teams, perhaps the Chargers' greatest strength this season other than their passing game, allowed Eddie Royal to return a punt and kickoff for touchdowns. Nothing in this sport is more demoralizing than a kick return, although the Broncos managed to get past Darren Sproles' dandy, 77-yard punt return for a score that put the hosts up at the half (20-17) for the first time this season.

“The difference in the game was their ability to pressure Philip,” Turner would say. “He got beat on pretty good. They did a good job with the pass rush and we didn't do as well as we could.”

How does he know that? The Chargers very well may be playing as well as they can.